NFBT NEWS                                         


                                        A publication of the
                                 National Federation of the Blind 
                                              of Texas
                                          6909 Rufus Drive
                                       Austin, TX  78752-3123
                                            512-323-5444



                                         VOLUME 2, NUMBER 1
                                            WINTER 1995



                                        Norma Crosby, Editor


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 "Changing what it means to be blind"

























All subscription requests, changes of
address, announcements, comments and
questions should be addressed to:

     NFBT News
     1403 Cheshire Lane
     Houston TX  77018-4134.

We will accept correspondence in print,
on tape or in Braille.  

If you prefer, to call to notify us of
address or subscription changes, you
may do so by calling, toll-free 1-800-662-
2866.  Or, if you live in the Houston
area, call our NFBT News office at 713-
956-4909.

                                             Editorial
                                            THEY CALL IT
                                            OPPORTUNITY

     In a recent meeting between the
Texas Commission for the Blind and
several consumer groups the subject of
employment opportunities for blind
people was discussed.  I took the
opportunity to express, to the
administration officials present, my
feeling that the agency itself needs to do
more to employ blind people.
     In doing so, I suggested that TCB
stop requiring that all residential
managers at the Criss Cole
Rehabilitation Center have a valid Texas
driver's license.  I pointed out that this
practice discriminates against blind
applicants, and I enumerated several
benefits of hiring some blind managers.
      The agency administrators seemed
to agree that hiring blind residential
managers at CCRC would provide
clients with an opportunity to have
contact with good role models.  They
said that they would go away and see
what could be done about the situation.
     Several months after this
discussion, I received a copy of a job
notice for a residential manager at
CCRC.  To my delight, it did not
contain the requirement that applicants
have a valid driver's license.  This
seemed to be a positive sign that the
agency really wanted to hear 
suggestions from blind consumers. 
      I was hopeful that meaningful
changes were being made until I
received other job notices for residential
managers.  To my astonishment, they all
contained the requirement that applicans
hold a license.  I was disturbed by this
development.  I felt as though the
agency was playing a game with blind
people in general and me in particular.
     I contacted Terry Murphy, who
serves as the agency's Deputy Director
for Programs.  He told me that the
agency had never intended to do away
with the requirement entirely.  I told
him that I understood that.  However, I
don't understand how the Texas
Commission for the Blind can expect
blind people to support them when they
play destructive games such as this one.
     Evidently, the agency thought
blind people would be content if they
opened up one job for us.  It also seems
as though they think we possess less
intelligence than the average person. 
Because, the position they are so
generously offering us is a daytime
position.  Clients are in class during
daytime hours.  Thus, there would be
little opportunity for contact between the
blind manager and clients.  That's not
what was suggested, and they know it.
     Perhaps, some would say that we
are fortunate to have been given the
opportunity to apply for one of these
jobs.  I don't believe that.  Blind people
should never be content with the crumbs
that sighted people occasionally throw
our way.  We should keep striving for
more, and the agency charged with
assisting blind people in their quest for
independence should not be acting as a
hindrance.  It should show its belief in
blind people, and in the training it
provides, by serving as an example to
other employers.  Instead, those who run
the Texas Commission for the Blind act
as though they are making a big
sacrifice by offering this one
opportunity.  They try to weasel out of
their commitment to the blind with
childish games, and they send the signal
that the blind cannot compete with the
sighted.  
      If they give us proper training, we
can compete.  Unfortunately, the
agency's idea of training leaves many
blind Texans afraid that they can't even
travel the streets without sighted help. 
So, if it is true that we are not capable
of doing jobs such as the one discussed
here, the Commission must look long
and hard at its training programs. 
Blind Texans deserve more than crumbs. 
We deserve to be employed. 
Furthermore, we deserve a rehabilitation
agency that we can trust to keep its
word.  


                                          1995 CONVENTION
                                                SET
                                          By Norma Cro                
     
     The 1995 convention of the
National Federation of the Blind of
Texas is set to take place at the Oak
Hills Motor Inn, at 7401 Wurzbach
Road, in San Antonio.  The dates for the
convention are March 10-12, and room
rates are $50.00 for singles and $55.00
for doubles.
     The convention agenda has not
been finalized.  However, I know that
everyone can expect an exciting
program.  Our conventions are open to
the public, and we invite all our friends
who read the NFBT News to join us.  
     If you need more information
about the convention, you may contact
President Tommy Craig by calling 512-
323-5444 or 1-800-662-2866.  You can
also get information about the
convention from your nearest local
chapter president.  Their names and
telephone numbers can be found at the
end of this publication.

                                            SCHOLARSHIPS
                                           TO BE AWARDED
                                          By Norma Crosby
     
     We are now accepting applications
from students who wish to be considered
for our 1995 NFB of Texas Scholarship
Program.  Those who wish to be
considered must be legally blind
residents of Texas who plan to attend a
college, university, trade or technical
school in the fall of 1995.  
     The deadline for applications is
January 31, 1995, and we urge all
interested high school seniors and those
who are currently enrolled in a post-
secondary school to apply.  If you
haven't received an application in the
mail, you can obtain one from your
nearest NFB chapter president, or, by
calling us at 1-800-662-2866.  
     In 1995 the NFB of Texas will be
awarding four scholarships, totaling
more than $5,000.00.  In addition to the
scholarships we will award, the winners
will be brought to the NFB of Texas
Convention, at Federation expense.    
     Each year this program becomes
more competitive, and we receive
applications from the finest blind
students in the state.  We are committed
to providing those students with the
opportunity to compete on terms of
equality with their sighted peers.  
     Many past winners are doing that. 
For example, William Harmon, Jr. is
working as a teacher in the Texas City
Independent School District.  Jeanine
Lineback is a rehabilitation instructor
specializing in computer training at the
Colorado Center for the Blind.  Pegie
Gonzalez, of San Antonio, teaches in the
public schools.  Patsy Lawson, attends
college, while working 40 hours a week
as a social services worker at the
Lighthouse of Houston.  
     Many blind students have
benefited from this program, and we
look forward to adding the names of the
four members of the Class of '95 to that
long list of NFBT scholarship recipients
who are a part of our dream of
changing what it means to be blind.
 
                                         FOCUS ON A LEADER
                                            TOMMY CRAIG
                                       By Elizabeth Campbell
     
     Tommy Craig doesn't shy away
from helping blind people fight for
dignity and equal treatment in society. 
As the new president of the National
Federation of the Blind of Texas, Craig,
39, emphasizes the abilities and
capabilities of blind people.  However,
he knows that many blind people believe
that they can't compete on terms of
equality with their sighted peers.  He
knows, firsthand, that often, those who
are supposed to help blind people hurt
them with their own negative attitudes
about blindness. 
     Craig was born in Ashdown,
Arkansas, in 1955, and he says that his
parents did not allow his blindness to be
an obstacle or a hindrance. 
     "I was the only blind person in the
town where we lived," he recalls.  "When
I dropped something, they made me get
down and pick it up.  People thought
they were mean, but I am glad they
treated me that way."  
     At age nine, Craig left home to
attend the Arkansas School for the
Blind, in Little Rock.  He found much
that was negative, at the school.
However, he was able to gain some
positive skills such as a good working
knowledge of Braille.  He says, "I wasn't
happy about going to the school for the
blind.  But, it enabled me to learn
Braille, which is one of the best things
ever to happen to me."
     Mr. Craig's parents died when he
was young, and he moved to Texas.  He
lived in Houston, with an aunt and
uncle, and completed his secondary
education at MacArthur High School,
after spending some time at the Texas
School for the Blind, in Austin.  Then,
he completed two years of college at
Stephen F. Austin State University, in
Nacogdoches, and the University of
Texas at Austin.  Subsequently, he took
a job as a houseparent at the Texas
School for the Blind.
     While living in Austin, Craig
discovered the National Federation of
The Blind.   He recalls learning about
the work of the Federation when he
attended the Austin chapter's Christmas
party in 1976.  There, he heard a taped
presentation describing the Federation's
efforts to help blind people who worked
at the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind.
He felt, strongly, that this effort was
important, and it served to cement his
commitment to the Federation.
     Soon after joining the NFB, Craig
became President of the Austin Chapter,
and a member of the NFB of Texas
Board of Directors.  In 1993, he became
the NFB of Texas' Secretary, and at the
March 1994 state convention, in Odessa,
he was elected president.        
     For many years, Craig, served on
the NFB of Texas Legislative Committee. 
While he participated in the work of this
important committee the Federation
worked tirelessly to secure the passage
of many significant pieces of legislation. 
He is particularly proud of the fact that
he served in 1991, when the Federation
spearheaded the passage of HB-2277, the
Braille Literacy Act.  This momentous
legislation guarantees all blind students
who live in Texas the right to learn
Braille, and it has become a model for
the country.
          Craig says that his new role as the
elected leader of the NFB of Texas offers 
many exciting challenges.  He suggests
that advocacy will be in the forefront
during his administration.   
     He says, "One thing I really enjoy
is representing students, doing advocacy
work and really getting out there to
work for blind people."

                                          THE QUESTION BOX

Q:  I am the parent of a blind child. 
She has partial vision, and I feel as
though she should be given the
opportunity to learn Braille.  However, I
have met with some opposition from
local educators.  Can you give me some
guidance in this matter?

A:  First, let me say that if your child is
legally blind, it is safe to say that she
can benefit from learning how to read
and write Braille.  I think a book
written by Doris Willoughby and Sharon
Duffy, who teach blind and visually
impaired children can provide you and
your school district with some
reasonable guidelines for determining
whether your daughter needs to know
Braille.  The book is called A Handbook
for Itinerant & Resource Teachers of
Blind & Visually Impaired Students, and
it lists some factors that point to the
need for Braille training.  They are as
follows:

     Does the child read very slowly in
print, not because of reading ability, but
simply because he cannot see it any
faster?
     Does he see only one word - or
even part of a word - at a time?
     Must he turn his head at an
unusual angle and/or keep moving his
head?
     Do muscles become tired and
strained because the need to stay in a
very precise position?
     Must the student bring his face
extremely close to the page? 
     Does the student lose the meaning
of the text because he must expend so
much effort merely to see it?
     Does he tire quickly on visual
tasks - more so than his general ability
and maturity would seem to indicate?
     Is he unable to read standard-
sized print?
     Is mass-produced large print
(usually 14-16 point type) difficult or
impossible?
     Is he unable to read his own
handwriting?
     Must he have a special lighting
arrangement?
     If a magnifier is used, is it bulky
and cumbersome?
     Does the student frequently pause
or stumble over words he knows,
needing to take time to bring the word
into focus?
     Does he read for pleasure, or is it
too much work?

If the answer to most of these questions
is yes, Braille should definitely be
taught.  Your goal, and the goal of your
school district, should be to give your
child an opportunity to be as successful
as possible, with as little discomfort as
possible.  Print may be useful to her in
some circumstances.  However, she
should not be taught that it is better to
rely on sight at all costs.  Braille is a
good alternative for tasks that your child
has difficulty in performing while using
printed material.  It can make her more
competitive and productive.

                                           BULLETIN BOARD

Congratulations!
     On Saturday, June 4, 1994, Glenn
Crosby II (son of former state president
Glenn Crosby) married Amber Kirsch. 
We wish to extend our congratulations
and best wishes to Glenn & Amber. 

Dallas Charter Member Dies
     Annie Mae Daniels, a charter
member of the Dallas Progressive
Chapter of the National Federation of
the Blind, died on November 21, 1994. 
Annie Mae was a woman who could be
counted on to do whatever needed to be
done, and she was truly a gracious lady. 
She will be missed by the members of
her local chapter and by all who knew
her. 

Retirement
     Manuel Gonzalez, who has served
for many years as treasurer of the NFB
of Texas, has retired from his job in the
San Antonio Independent School
District.  Mr. Gonzalez worked for more
than 30 years in the field of education. 
At the time of his retirement he was
working as the director of a program for
multiply-handicapped children.
     Now that he is retired, Mr.
Gonzalez plans to spend time with his
grandchildren and to continue his duties
with the Federation.  Congratulations
Mr. G!

Appointed
     Doris Henderson, First Vice-
President of the NFB of Texas, has been
appointed as an impartial hearing officer
in cases dealing  with rehabilitation
complaints, in Texas.  Her years in the
field of work with the blind and her
activities with the organized blind
movement make her an excellent
candidate for such a position.
     

                                           NFB BOOKSHELF

Walking Alone & Marching Together: A
History of the Organized Blind
Movement 1940-1990
     Written by distinguished author
and professor, Floyd Matson, the boo
chronicles the progress of the organized
blind movement from 1940 to 1990. 
Available from the NFB.  To order call
1-410-659-9314 or write:  NFB Materials
Center, 1800 Johnson St., Baltimore,
MD 21230.
     Cost:  $33.00  print.   $40.00 tape
(includes original speeches).  $130.00
Braille.  Also available from the Texas
State Library Talking Book Program.

The McDuffy Reader
     Written by Sharon Duffy, this text
and teacher's edition provides Braille
instruction for blind adults.
     Cost:  $15.00 for the Braille
textbook.  $10.00 for both the Braille
and print versions of the teacher's guide. 


Building Braille Reading Speed:  Some
Helpful Suggestions
     This article is written by Jerry
Whittle, who is the Braille instructor at
the Louisiana Center for the Blind.  It is
available free of charge from the NFB. 

                                           LOCAL CHAPTERS
                                           
Amarillo.................................817-376-8454
Eura Mae Harmon, President

Arlington................................817-861-8304
Ruth Fabel, President

Austin.....................................512-451-1717
Tommy Craig, President
     
Brownsville............................210-541-0970
Ernestina Notargiacomo, President

Dallas.....................................214-942-2612
Doris Henderson, President

Fort Worth...........................817-738-0350
Elizabeth Campbell, President

Galveston County................409-948-6825
William Harmon, Jr., President

Houston..................................713-956-4909
Norma Crosby, President
            
McAllen..................................210-783-5070
Raul Reyes, President

Permian Basin........................915-368-5646
Connie Eckard, President

San Antonio...........................210-951-2530
Martha Laque, President

Wichita Falls..........................817-592-5757
Lola Pace, President


